The first time this writer saw Amir “Hardcore” Mansour, 17-0 (13), I thought it was the return of “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler as a heavyweight! That was back in August of 2010 upon his return to the ring after a 9 year absence. There have been few successful southpaws in the heavyweight division with Michael Moore being the first to win a championship.

Mansour has had 8 fights and 7 by knockout since his return with the most recent in January of 2013 with Dominique Alexander lasting 0:24 of the 1st round! Only veteran Dominick Guinn, 33-7-1, at the time who has never been stopped in 44 fights went the distance back in August of 2011. That was for the vacant IBF North American and interim WBO NABO titles. The first title he won was in May of 2011 stopping Raymond Ochieng, 23-13-3, in 1:45 of the 1st round in May of 2011. The only one of Mansour’s fights that has not been at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, DE, was at Bally’s in Atlantic City in April of 2011 when he stopped Hector Ferreyro, 21-9-2 in 2:08 of the 1st round. Dover does their own promotions with Nick Tiberi serving as matchmaker and Lisa Butler doing Public Relations.

Mansour is a fan favorite at Dover from the time he makes his march to the ring. They go wild in anticipation for the now Wilmington, DE, resident. His muscular body, bald head and red trunks with black stripes are his trademark. He is also known to do a back flip after being announced the winner.

Speaking of trademarks you never know what his manager Keith Stoffer is going to show up in. His suits vary in color and at the last fight he looked like a Middle East king. He’s been there every step of the way with Mansour. So has the trainer Howard “Moses” Mosely, out of Philadelphia who has Danny Davis assisting him in the corner. Stoffer is known for guiding the Stewart brothers, Mike and Richie.

Mansour now trains at 10th & Buttonwood in Philadelphia. Mosely also works with two Philadelphia boxers in “The New” Ray Robinson, 15-2 and Dennis Hasson, 15-0, at the gym.

Mansour’s career started back in 1997 when he knocked out Clifton Graham in the 1st round. It was the debut for both fighters in Allentown, PA. He fought until June of 2001 scoring 9 wins with 6 by knockout. He’s made appearances at the Blue Horizon in back to back shows in 1997. He returned to Allentown in November of 2011 for a second appearance. Originally from NJ he made an appearance at the Sands Casino, in Atlantic City in June of 2001 stopping Fabian Garcia, 18-15-1 in the 1st round.

Mansour will be 41 in July and he knows time is not on his side. Another 40+ boxer named Bernard Hopkins also trains at times in the same gym. He is also a transplant to DE. The biggest difference between the two is how approachable Mansour is compared to Hopkins.

Returning to the ring in January Mansour’s weight was a career high at 236 but just a pound over his match with Ochieng. This was 10 pounds over his bout in December of 2011 when he stopped

Epifanio Mendoza, 32-12-1, for the vacant World Boxing Federation Intercontinental title in 6 rounds. Rumors are this could be the last time Mansour fights at Dover with places like Atlantic City calling.

In a recent visit to the gym Mansour trains this writer ran into him as he was leaving. It was agreed we would have a Q&A before his next outing that was supposed to be against former 2004 Olympian Devin Vargas, 18-2 (7), of Toledo, OH, for the vacant NABA title. Vargas got his nose broken in training a week prior to the fight. Jason Gavern, 21-13-4 (10), of Orlando, FL, will be filling in against Mansour. He has fought in DE twice, defeating Harold Sconiers, and losing to Franklin Lawrence.

KEN HISSNER: I remember the first time sitting down with you for an interview. You have always been very approachable. Do you feel too many boxers use their promoters and managers as shields today?

AMIR MANSOUR: For sure. When a promoter gets in a mode to protect their fighters it is hard to get to them.

KEN HISSNER: The fans especially in Dover always seem to be anticipating a knockout when you fight there. Does it put on any added pressure for you to make this happen?

AMIR MANSOUR: I know they do. I don’t look for a knockout. I train to go the duration of the fight like I did with Dominick Guinn. People felt I might get tired if I go into the late rounds but I train for that.

KEN HISSNER: Do you think your manager Keith Stoffer steal’s any of the attention put on you prior to you entering the arena with those “threads” he wears?

AMIR MANSOUR: I love it! He deserves a lot of credit with all the hard work he has put into my career.

KEN HISSNER: Have you found it difficult, especially living in DE to find sparring partners?

AMIR MANSOUR: That is why I go to Philly. I mostly work with Chazz Witherspoon. If I have a best friend in boxing it’s him.

KEN HISSNER: You seem to have a good corner in Moses Robinson and Danny Davis. The latter is known for wrapping hands. Moses if I’m not mistaken was with you from the beginning, is that right?

AMIR MANSOUR: Moses came in after my third fight.

KEN HISSNER: I understand you’ve been offered to fill in especially recently when some big name fights have had one of the opponents hurt. Yet you get turned down and someone else fills in or they put the fight off until the original opponent is ready. Does this frustrate you?

AMIR MANSOUR: No it doesn’t. We had calls from Australia and Spain for 10k. We believe it was just to say they “offered” to fight me and we turned them down.

KEN HISSNER: I appreciate you taking the time with your upcoming fight on April 12 almost here.